Semiconductor memory device for generating core voltage

ABSTRACT

Semiconductor memory device includes a detection circuit configured to detect a voltage level of an external power supply voltage and a core voltage generation circuit configured to vary a voltage level of the core voltage according to an output signal of the detection circuit to generate a uniform core voltage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority of Korean patent applicationnumber 10-2007-0087231, filed on Aug. 29, 2007, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and moreparticularly, to a core voltage generation circuit for generating corevoltage.

A semiconductor memory device is used in storing data in a variety ofapplications. Such a semiconductor memory device is widely used indesktop computers, notebook computers and portable electronicapparatuses. Therefore, there is a need for the semiconductor memorydevice of large capacity, high speed, small size and low power.

In order to achieve the semiconductor memory device of low power, amethod for minimizing power consumption in a core area of the memorydevice has been proposed. The core area includes a memory cell, a bitline and a word line, and is designed according to an ultra-fine designrule. To design an ultra-fine semiconductor memory device for performinghigh frequency operations, it is essential to lower power sourcevoltage.

The semiconductor memory device uses an internal voltage of a voltagelevel adequate for operations in an internal circuit of thesemiconductor memory device, which is generated by an external powersupply voltage (VDD) lower than a certain voltage level. A memorydevice, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which utilizes abit line sense amplifier, uses a core voltage (VCORE) to sense celldata. When a word line is enabled, data in a plurality of memory cellsconnected to the word line are transferred to bit lines, and then thebit line sense amplifiers sense and amplify voltage differences of bitline pairs. Generally, thousands of bit line sense amplifiers areoperated at the same time. Thus, a large amount of current is consumedat a time at a core voltage terminal to drive pull-up power lines of thebit line sense amplifiers.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional core voltage generationcircuit.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional core voltage generation circuitincludes a comparator 10, an amplifier 11 and a feedback voltagegenerator 12. The comparator 10 differentially compares a feedbackvoltage of half the core voltage (one half of the voltage level of apotential at a core voltage terminal) and a reference voltage (VREFC)(of one half of the voltage level of a target core voltage; 0.75 V). Theamplifier 11 amplifies a core voltage to approximately 1.5 V in responseto an output signal of the comparator 10. The feedback voltage generator12 divides the amplified core voltage, and generates the feedbackvoltage having one half of the voltage level of the potential at thecore voltage terminal to monitor the core voltage. The conventional corevoltage generation circuit further includes a control switch 13configured to control operations of the comparator 10.

The core voltage generation circuit determines the operation point ofthe comparator 10 using an external power supply voltage VDD applied toan NMOS transistor MN1 constituting the control switch 13.

As the NMOS transistor MN1 is turned on in response to the externalpower supply voltage VDD and the NMOS transistor MN2 is turned on inresponse to the reference voltage VREFC applied from the outside, drainvoltages of the transistors MN1 and MN2 are lowered. That is, thepotential of the node N1 is lowered. Then, a low level signal is appliedto a gate of a PMOS transistor MP3 to turn on the PMOS transistor MP3and thus increase the core voltage VCORE output from the core voltagegeneration circuit.

As the core voltage VCORE is increased, the feedback voltage is alsoincreased to turn on an NMOS transistor MN3. As the NMOS transistor MN3is turned on, a potential of the node N2 is decreased to decrease avoltage level applied to gates of the PMOS transistors MP1 and MP2. Thedecrease of the voltage level at the gates of the PMOS transistors MP1and MP2 turns on the PMOS transistors MP1 and MP2 to gradually increasea potential of the node N1. That is, a gate voltage of the PMOStransistor MP3 is gradually increased. Such operations are repeateduntil the feedback voltage becomes equal to the reference voltage VREFC.

Such a conventional core voltage generation circuit includes a two-stageamplifier having resistor-type connection of two transistors in anegative feedback configuration. As a result, a closed loop gainapproaches 2 as an open loop gain approaches infinity, and thus the corevoltage generation circuit generates a core voltage of a voltage leveltwo times as high as the reference voltage VREFC.

However, such a conventional core voltage generation circuit has atleast two poles. Accordingly, a phase margin, which is required in ahigh frequency operation, is not sufficient, and thus system stabilitymay be reduced.

In addition, the conventional core voltage generation circuit performsthe same controls regardless of whether the external power supplyvoltage is higher or lower than the reference voltage. That is, thegeneration of the core voltage is controlled by the two-stage amplifieremploying the same feedback using the same circuit elements. Therefore,the conventional core voltage generation circuit has the limitation thatthe output level of the core voltage is not constant, for example, theoutput core voltage is high when the external power supply voltage ishigh, and the output core voltage is low when the external power supplyvoltage is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing asemiconductor memory device that generates a stable core voltageregardless of a voltage level of an external power supply voltage inputthereinto.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to providing asemiconductor memory device that secures sufficient phase margin andgain margin regardless of variations in an external power supply voltageto generate a stable core voltage.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided adetection circuit configured to detect a voltage level of an externalpower supply voltage and a core voltage generation circuit configured tovary a voltage level of the core voltage according to an output signalof the detection circuit to generate a uniform core voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional core voltage generationcircuit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a semiconductor memory device in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a core voltage generation circuit of thesemiconductor memory device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a VDD detection circuit of thesemiconductor memory device of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a semiconductor memory device in accordance with thepresent invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

As will be described below, a semiconductor memory device in accordancewith embodiments of the invention detects variations in an externalpower supply voltage to vary a voltage level of a core voltage accordingto the detection result, thereby generating uniform core voltage. Thevariation of the voltage level of the core voltage can be performed byvarying amplification degree of the external power supply voltage, whichserves as a source voltage for generating the core voltage, according tothe detection result.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a semiconductor memory device in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, thesemiconductor memory device includes a VDD detection circuit 35 and acore voltage generation circuit 25. The VDD detection circuit 35 detectsa voltage level of an external power supply voltage VDD to generate alow external power supply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN according to thedetected voltage level. The core voltage generation circuit 25 includesa phase compensator. The phase compensator operates differently when theexternal power supply voltage is in a high level state and when it is ina low level state. As such, the phase compensator can secure asufficient phase margin according to the detection result of the VDDdetection circuit 35 while maintaining a negative feedbackcharacteristic. As a result, the core voltage generation circuit 25 cangenerate a stable core voltage.

The VDD detection circuit 35 compares a voltage level of a predeterminedportion of the external power supply voltage VDD with a voltage level ofa reference voltage VREF. If the voltage level of the predeterminedportion of the external power supply voltage VDD is lower than thevoltage level of the reference voltage VREF, the VDD detection circuit35 generates a high level signal, i.e., a low external power supplyvoltage LVDD_EN of a high level. If the voltage level of thepredetermined portion of the external power supply voltage VDD is higherthan the voltage level of the reference voltage VREF, the VDD detectioncircuit 35 generates a low level signal, i.e., a low external powersupply voltage LVDD_EN of a low level. Detailed description ofconfiguration and operation of the VDD detection circuit 35 will begiven later with reference to FIG. 4.

The reference voltage VREF is used as a reference for comparison withthe external power supply voltage VDD. The reference voltage VREF has avoltage level within a predetermined voltage range (experimental value)of the rated external power supply voltage. Accordingly, the externalpower supply voltage VDD having a voltage level slightly lower than thepredetermined voltage range of the rated external power supply voltageis referred to as an external power supply voltage in a low levelregion. The external power supply voltage VDD having a voltage levelslightly higher than the predetermined voltage range of the ratedexternal power supply voltage is referred to as an external power supplyvoltage in a high level region.

If a low level signal is output from the VDD detection circuit 35, thecore voltage generation circuit 25 determines that the external powersupply voltage VDD is in the high level region of the external powersupply voltage. Then, the core voltage generation circuit 25 secures aphase margin for a two-stage amplifier while maintaining a negativefeedback characteristic using a first compensator operating in the highlevel region of the external power supply voltage. As a result, the corevoltage generation circuit 25 configured with the two-stage amplifiercan generate a stable core voltage while securing a sufficient phasemargin in the high level region of the external power supply voltage.

On the contrary, if a high level signal is output from the VDD detectioncircuit 35, the core voltage generation circuit 25 determines that theexternal power supply voltage is in the low level region of the externalpower supply voltage. Then, the core voltage generation circuit 25secures the phase margin for the two-stage amplifier while maintainingthe negative feedback characteristic using a second compensatoroperating in the low level region of the external power supply voltage.As a result, the core voltage generation circuit 25 configured with thetwo-stage amplifier can generate a stable core voltage while securing asufficient phase margin in the low level region of the external powersupply voltage.

Hereinafter, a method for generating a stable core voltage by operatingone of the compensators according to the voltage level of the externalpower supply voltage VDD will be described with reference to FIG. 3.FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the core voltage generation circuit ofthe semiconductor memory device of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the core voltage generation circuit 25 includes acomparator 20, an amplifier 21, a feedback voltage generator 22 and acontrol switch 23. The comparator 20 differentially compares a feedbackvoltage and a reference voltage VREFC. The feedback voltage may be ahalf core voltage having one half of the voltage level of the potentialof the core voltage terminal. The reference voltage VREFC has one halfof the voltage level of a target core voltage (0.75V). The amplifier 21amplifies a core voltage to approximately 1.5 V in response to an outputsignal of the comparator 20. The feedback voltage generator 22 dividesthe amplified core voltage to generate the feedback voltage having onehalf of the voltage level of the potential of the core voltage terminalfor monitoring the core voltage. The control switch 23 opens and closescurrent paths of the comparator 20 and the amplifier 21 to enable anddisable the comparator 20 and the amplifier 21.

The core voltage generation circuit 25 further includes a firstcompensator 24A to secure a negative feedback characteristic of atwo-stage amplifier. The first compensator 24A has an RC circuitconnected between a gate and a drain of a PMOS transistor MP13constituting the amplifier 21. The first compensator 24A is operated bya low external power supply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN in a highlevel region of the external power supply voltage.

The core voltage generation circuit 25 further includes a secondcompensator 24B to secure a negative feedback characteristic of thetwo-stage amplifier. The second compensator 24B has an RC circuitconnected between the gate and the drain of the PMOS transistor MP13constituting the amplifier 21. The second compensator 24B is operated bythe low external power supply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN in a lowlevel region of the external power supply voltage.

The comparator 20 includes two NMOS transistors MN12 and MN13 performingdifferential comparison in response to the reference voltage VREFCapplied from the outside and the feedback voltage having one half of thevoltage level of the core voltage. Sources of the two transistors MN12and MN13 are connected to each other through a node N15. The referencevoltage VREFC is applied to a gate of the transistor MN12, and thefeedback voltage is applied to a gate of the transistor MN13. A drain ofthe transistor MN12 is connected in series to the PMOS transistor MP11through a node N11. The external power supply voltage VDD is applied toa source of the PMOS transistor MP11. A drain of the transistor MN13 isconnected in series to a PMOS transistor MP12, and a gate and a drain ofthe transistor MP12 is connected to each other through a node N12. Agate of the PMOS transistor MP11 is also connected to the node N12. Theexternal power supply voltage VDD is applied to a source of thetransistor MP12.

The amplifier 21 includes a PMOS transistor MP13 having a gate connectedto the node N11, a source receiving the external power supply voltageVDD, and a drain outputting an amplified core voltage VCORE. An NMOStransistor MN16 is connected in series between the PMOS transistor MP13and a ground voltage.

The control switch 23 includes NMOS transistors MN11 and MN16. The NMOStransistor MN11 has a drain connected to the node N15 of the comparator20, a gate configured to receive a bias voltage BIAS from the outside,and a source connected to a ground voltage. The NMOS transistor MN16 hasa drain connected to the node N13 of the amplifier 21, a gate receivingthe bias voltage, and a source connected to the ground voltage.

The feedback voltage generator 22 includes NMOS transistors MN14 andMN15 connected in series to each other through a node N14. The NMOStransistors MN14 and MN15 are connected in series between an outputterminal N13 for the core voltage generated by the amplifier 21 and theground terminal. The node N14 is connected to the gate of the transistorMN13 of the comparator 20. A drain and a gate of the transistor MN14 areconnected to each other, which is the same to the transistor MN15. Thatis, the core voltage is divided by the two transistors MN14 and MN15.The divided core voltage is transferred to a gate of the transistor MN13of the comparator 20 to turn on the transistor MN13.

The first compensator 24A is configured with an RC circuit connectedbetween an input terminal (gate) and an output terminal (drain) of thePMOS transistor MP13 constituting the amplifier 21. The RC circuitincludes a PMOS transistor MP20 functioning as a resistor and acapacitor C11. The transistor MP20 is turned on in response to a lowlevel signal (of the low external power supply voltage enable signalLVDD_EN) which is applied to a gate when the external power supplyvoltage VDD is in a high level region. Here, the capacitor 11 shifts twopoles, and the resistor inserts zero. The first compensator 24A has anRC value that can secure sufficient phase margin and gain margin whenthe external power supply voltage is in the high level region.

The second compensator 24B is connected to the first compensator 24A inparallel. The second compensator 24B is configured with an RC circuitconnected between an input terminal (gate) and an output terminal(drain) of the PMOS transistor MP13 constituting the amplifier 21. TheRC circuit includes a PMOS transistor MP21 functioning as a resistor anda capacitor C12. The transistor MP21 is turned on in response to a highlevel signal (of the low external power supply voltage enable signalLVDD_EN) which is applied to a gate when the external power supplyvoltage VDD is in a low level region. Accordingly, when the low externalpower supply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN is a high level signal, theinverter IV1 inverts the high level signal to a low level signal toapply it to the gate of the PMOS transistor MP21. The second compensator24B has an RC value that can secure sufficient phase margin and gainmargin when the external power supply voltage VDD is in the low levelregion.

Hereinafter, an operation of the core voltage generation circuit inaccordance with the embodiment of the invention will be described.

In order to operate the core voltage generation circuit 25 configuredwith the two-stage amplifier, there is a need for detecting the voltagelevel of the external power supply voltage VDD input thereto todetermine whether the external power supply voltage VDD is in a highlevel region (of the external power supply voltage) or a low levelregion (of the external power supply voltage). As a result, a lowexternal power supply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN is generated.Depending on the detected voltage level of the external power supplyvoltage, the compensators are selectively operated to secure a phasemargin and a gain margin to thereby secure a negative feedbackcharacteristic.

Therefore, the first and second compensators 24A and 24B are operatedselectively according to the voltage level of the external power supplyvoltage VDD. This will be described later with reference to FIG. 4. Whenthe divided external power supply voltage is lower than the referencevoltage, the low external power supply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN isapplied as a high level signal. The high level signal is inverted to alow level signal by the inverter IN1. As such, the high level signalturns off the transistor MP20 of the first compensator 24A, and the lowlevel signal inverted from the high level signal by the inverter IV1turns on the transistor MP21 of the second compensator 24B.

Then, the first compensator 24A is disabled and the second compensator24B is enabled. Resultantly, between the gate and the drain of the PMOStransistor MP13 constituting the amplifier 21, the second compensator24B is connected. That is, between the input terminal and the outputterminal of the amplifier 21, the second compensator 24B is connected.

Meanwhile, the transistor MN11, which is a current source of thecomparator 20, is turned on to form a current path of the comparator 20.

As the transistor MN12 is turned on by the reference voltage VREFC,voltage level of the node N11 is lowered, and as the transistor MN11 isturned on, voltage level of the node N15 is lowered. The potential ofthe node N11 varies in connection with that of the node N15. That is, asthe potential of the node N15 is lowered, the potential of the node N11is also lowered accordingly.

Here, the low level signal at the node N11 turns on the PMOS transistorMP13 constituting the amplifier 21 to apply an amplified core voltage tothe node N13. Further, as the drain voltages of the transistor MN12 andMN11 are lowered, the turn on characteristic of the transistor MP13 isincreased gradually, thereby increasing the output core voltage.

The feedback voltage for monitoring the core voltage is divided by thetransistors MN15 and MN14 before being applied to the gate of the NMOStransistor MN13. The turning on of the transistor MN13 lowers the gatevoltages of the PMOS transistors MP11 and MP12.

As the gate voltages of the transistors MP11 and MP12 are lowered, thetransistors MP11 and MP12 are turned on, and thus the voltage level atthe node N11 increases gradually. Resultantly, the gate voltage of thetransistor MP13, which is turned on/off in response to the voltage ofthe node N11, is also increased gradually.

Since the transistor MP13 is a PMOS transistor, increase of the gatevoltage decreases the turn on characteristic of the transistor MP13,thereby decreasing the output core voltage. As a result, the comparator20 repeats the differential comparison until the feedback voltage formonitoring the core voltage becomes equal to the reference voltageVREFC.

The second compensator 24B connected between the input terminal and theoutput terminal of the amplifier 21 secures the phase margin and thegain margin between the input terminal and the output terminal of theamplifier 21. That is, the second compensator 24B is connected betweenthe gate and the drain of the PMOS transistor MP13 constituting theamplifier 21. The gate of the PMOS transistor MP13 is connected to thenode N11 which controls the turn on voltage of the transistor MP13.Therefore, the potential of the node N11 is compensated by the secondcompensator 24B. Resultantly, the output core voltage connected to theother side of the second compensator 24B compensates the potential ofthe node N11 stably.

Consequently, even if a load is changed suddenly or external noise isapplied, the amplifier 21 can stabilize the core voltage in a short timewhile maintaining the negative feedback characteristic of the two-stageamplifier with the help of the second compensator 24B. Even if theexternal power supply voltage VDD for generating the core voltage is ina low level region, the compensator 24B allows the turn oncharacteristic of the transistor MP13 to be controlled stably, therebygenerating a stable core voltage.

On the contrary, when the divided external power supply voltage ishigher than the reference voltage, the low external power supply voltageenable signal LVDD_EN of a low level is applied. This signal turns onthe transistor MP20 and is inverted by the inverter IV1 to turn off thetransistor MP21. As a result, the first compensator 24A is enabled andthe second compensator 24B is disabled. This results in a circuitincluding the PMOS transistor MP13 constituting the amplifier 21 and thefirst compensator 24A connected between the gate and the drain of thePMOS transistor MP13. That is, between the input terminal and the outputterminal of the amplifier 21 is connected the first compensator 24A.

Meanwhile, the transistor MN11, which is a current source of thecomparator 20, is turned on to form a current path for the comparator20.

Then, the transistor MN12 is turned on in response to the referencevoltage VREFC to lower the voltage level of the node N11, and thetransistor MN17 is turned on to lower the voltage level of the node N15.The potential of the node N11 varies in connection with that of the nodeN15. That is, as the potential of the node N15 is lowered, that of thenode N11 is also lowered.

The low level signal of the node N11 turns on the PMOS transistor MP13constituting the amplifier 21 to apply the amplified core voltage to thenode N13. Then, the drain voltages of the transistors MN12 and MN17 islowered to make the turn on characteristic of the transistor MP13increase gradually, thereby increasing the output core voltage.

The feedback voltage for monitoring the core voltage is divided by thetransistors MN15 and MN14 before being applied to the gate of the NMOStransistor MN13. Then, the transistor MN13 is turned on to lower thegate voltages of the PMOS transistors MP11 and MP12.

As the gate voltages of the transistors MP11 and MP12 are lowered, thetransistors MP11 and MP12 are turned on. As a result, the voltage of thenode N11 is increased gradually, and thus the gate voltage of thetransistor MP13, which is turned on in response to the voltage of thenode N11, is also increased gradually.

Since the transistor MP13 is a PMOS transistor, the increase of the gatevoltage reduces the turn on characteristic, thereby decreasing theoutput core voltage. The differential comparison is repeated until thefeedback voltage for monitoring the core voltage becomes identical tothe reference voltage VREFC.

The first compensator 24A connected to the input terminal and the outputterminal of the amplifier 21 secures a phase margin and a gain marginbetween the input terminal and the output terminal of the amplifier 21.That is, the first compensator 24A is connected between the gate and thedrain of the PMOS transistor MP13. The gate of the PMOS transistor MP13is connected to the node N11, which controls the turn on voltage of thetransistor MP13. Therefore, the potential of the node N11 is compensatedby the first compensator 24A, and the output core voltage connected tothe other side of the first compensator 24A resultingly compensates thepotential of the node N11 to control it in a stable manner.

As such, even if a load is changed suddenly or an external noise isapplied, the amplifier 21 can stabilize the core voltage in a short timewhile maintaining the negative feedback characteristic of the two-stageamplifier with the help of the first compensator 24A. Furthermore, evenif the applied external power supply voltage VDD for generating the corevoltage is in a high level region, the first compensator 24A cangenerate a stable core voltage while controlling the turn oncharacteristic of the transistor MP13 stably.

As described above, the core voltage generation circuit divides thepossible voltage range of the external power supply voltage VDD to thehigh level region and the low level region. Then, depending on whetherthe external power supply voltage VDD is in the high level region or thelow level region, the core voltage generation circuit selectivelyoperates one of the compensators to control the turn on characteristicof the amplifier.

The two-stage amplifier is a two-pole system, and should secure a phasemargin above 60 degrees depending on frequency stability. A typicalmethod for securing the phase margin of the multi-pole system is Millercompensation. That is, a capacitor is connected between the inputterminal and the output terminal of the amplifier 21 configured with thesecond amplifier to split two dominant poles and thereby to improve thestability. However, because the capacitor generates a feedforward path,a serial RC circuit is usually connected in order to remove thefeedforward path. Further, by providing a resistor configured with aPMOS transistor between the node N13 and an output terminal to form azero at the capacitor of the output terminal and the second pole, it ispossible to improve the phase margin using the offset effect.

Therefore, the compensator includes an RC circuit, and the firstcompensator 24A operating in the high level region has an RCcharacteristic greater than that of the second compensator 24B operatingin the low level region. Because of these differently established RCcharacteristics, sufficient phase margin and gain margin can be securedby the Miller compensation and thus a stable core voltage can begenerated regardless of the variations in the external power supplyvoltage.

Hereinafter, the VDD detection circuit of the semiconductor memorydevice of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

The VDD detection circuit includes a voltage divider, a comparator, aswitch, inverters IV6, IV5 and IV3 and an inverter IV2. The voltagedivider includes resistors R1 and R2 and capacitors C1 and C2 to dividethe external power supply voltage VDD. The comparator includes NMOStransistors MN18 and MN19 and PMOS transistors MP14 and MP15 todifferentially compare the divided external power supply voltagereceived from the voltage divider and the reference voltage VREF. Theswitch includes an NMOS transistor MN20 for forming a current path forthe comparator. The inverters IV6, IV5 and IV3 invert the comparisonresults. The inverter IV2 receives a pulse signal VDD_DET_ENP generatedafter the external power supply voltage is stabilized. The referencevoltage VREF is predetermined to detect a voltage level of the externalpower supply voltage VDD.

In the VDD detection circuit, the voltage level of the external powersupply voltage VDD is divided before being compared with the voltagelevel of the reference voltage. That is, when the voltage level of thedivided external power supply voltage is higher than the voltage levelof the reference voltage, the transistor MN18 is turned on so that theinverter IV6 outputs a high level signal. The high level signal isinverted by the inverter IV5 to a low level signal.

That is, when the voltage level of the divided external power supplyvoltage is higher than the voltage level of the reference voltage, theexternal power supply voltage is considered to be in a high levelregion. Then, the VDD detection circuit outputs a low external powersupply voltage enable signal LVDD_EN of a low level.

On the contrary, when the voltage level of the divided external powersupply voltage is lower than the voltage level of the reference voltage,the transistor MN19 is turned on so that the inverter IN6 outputs a lowlevel signal. This low level signal is inverted by the inverter IV5 to ahigh level signal.

That is, when the voltage level of the divided external power supplyvoltage is lower than the voltage level of the reference voltage, theexternal power supply voltage is considered to be in a low level region.Then, the VDD detection circuit outputs a low external power supplyvoltage enable signal LVDD_EN of a high level.

As described above, the core voltage generation circuit in accordancewith embodiments of the invention can improve a phase margin sufficientfor the two-stage amplifier while maintaining the negative feedbackcharacteristic using the RC circuit utilizing the Miller compensation.Particularly, the core voltage generation circuit divides possiblevoltage range of the external power supply voltage to the low levelregion and the high level region to secure a stable phase marginregardless of the variation in the external power supply voltage.Therefore, it is possible to secure a sufficient phase margin formaintaining the negative feedback characteristic of the two-stageamplifier and to generate a stable core voltage regardless of thevoltage level of the external power supply voltage.

While the invention has been described with respect to the specificembodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

For example, although it has been described that the voltage level thepredetermined portion of the external power supply voltage is comparedwith the voltage level of the reference voltage to determine whether theexternal power supply voltage is in the high level region or the lowlevel region, the invention is not limited thereto. That is, thepossible range of the voltage level of the predetermined portion of theexternal power supply voltage may also be divided into more number ofregions with finer voltage ranges, and thus the core voltage generationcircuit may also be provided with more number of compensators.

1. A semiconductor memory device, comprising: a detection circuitconfigured to detect a voltage level of an external power supplyvoltage; and a core voltage generation circuit configured to vary adegree of amplification of the external power supply voltage accordingto the detected voltage level of the external power supply voltage tovary a voltage level of a core voltage to generate a uniform corevoltage.
 2. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 1,wherein the core voltage generation circuit comprises: a comparatorconfigured to perform a differential comparison of a reference voltageand a feedback core voltage; an amplifier configured to amplify theexternal power supply voltage in response to an output signal of thecomparator to generate the uniform core voltage; and a phase compensatorconfigured to operate according to the voltage level of the externalpower supply voltage, the phase compensator being connected to an inputterminal and an output terminal of the amplifier.
 3. The semiconductormemory device as recited in claim 2, wherein the phase compensator iscontrolled by the output signal of the detection circuit.
 4. Thesemiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3, wherein the phasecompensator comprises at least one compensator configured to selectivelyoperate according to the voltage level of the external power supplyvoltage.
 5. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 4,wherein the detection circuit compares the external power supply voltagewith the reference voltage to determine whether the voltage level of theexternal power supply voltage is in a high level region or a low levelregion; and the phase compensator comprises a first compensator circuitconfigured to operate when the voltage level of the external powersupply voltage is in the high level region, and a second compensatorcircuit configured to operate when the voltage level of the externalpower supply voltage is in the low level region.
 6. The semiconductormemory device as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and secondcompensator circuits each comprise a resistor configured with a PMOStransistor, and a capacitor.
 7. The semiconductor memory device asrecited in claim 6, wherein the output signal of the detection circuitselectively turns the first and second compensator circuits on or off.8. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 7, wherein corevoltage generation circuit further comprises an inverter configured toinvert the output signal of the detection circuit, the invertergenerating an inverter output signal that turns at least one of thefirst and second compensator circuits on or off.
 9. The semiconductormemory device as recited in claim 3, wherein the core voltage generationcircuit further comprises a feedback voltage generator connected betweenan output terminal of the amplifier and a ground voltage terminal tooutput the feedback core voltage to the comparator for monitoring thecore voltage.
 10. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 2,wherein the core voltage generation circuit further comprises a currentsource connected to the comparator to determine an operating point ofthe comparator.
 11. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim2, wherein the core voltage generation circuit further comprises acurrent source connected to the amplifier to determine an operatingpoint of the amplifier.